Comparison of mulches for fresh-market basil production

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 267 - 268
• Main Author: Davis, J.M. (North Carolina State University, Fletcher, NC.)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Society for Horticultural Science 01-04-1994
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; BOIS DE FEUILLUS; CAROLINA DEL NORTE; CAROLINE DU NORD; CORTEZA; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; CUBRIMIENTO DEL SUELO; ECORCE; ERWINIA; FILM PLASTIQUE; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; MADERA DE FRONDOSAS; OCIMUM BASILICUM; PAILLAGE; PAILLE; PAJA; PATHOGENESE; PATOGENESIS; PELICULA PLASTICA; PINUS; POLIETILENO; POLYETHYLENE; PRODUCCION VEGETAL; PRODUCTION VEGETALE; RENDEMENT DES CULTURES; RENDIMIENTO DE CULTIVOS; Tending. Growth control; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; Plant pathogen; Small scale; Bark; Field experiment; Straw; Erwinia; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Organic material; Bacteria; Mulching; Enterobacteriaceae; Plant production; Cultural practice; Polyethylene; Intensity; Ocimum basilicum; Plastic mulching; Soil management; Infection; Wood chip; Labiatae; Plant origin; Bacteriosis; Flavoring crop; Spermatophyta; Yield; Plastics
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.29.4.267

Using various mulches for small-scale, commercial basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) production was examined. Sweet basil and bush basil, on raised beds with drip irrigation, were grown on bare ground or mulched with black polyethylene, wheat straw, hardwood bark, or mixed wood chips. Bacterial soft rot (Erwinia spp.) was highest for both basils grown with wheat straw and for sweet basil grown on bare ground or with back polyethylene mulch. Both basils grown with hardwood and pine bark mulches had few soft rot symptoms. All mulches provided acceptable weed control. Yields throughout the growing season were highest with black polyethylene mulch and lowest with hardwood and pine bark mulches